Dancing on thin ice

I was just covering for the weekend. “Just covering” means doing a lot of dancing on thin ice. I round on dozens of patients, none of whom I have ever seen before or will ever see again …

Dr. Hebert meets with the family of a lung cancer patient whose heart stopped and who is now severely brain-damaged.

I went in, and found myself surrounded by anxious family members. My stomach told me this would not be as easy as I had hoped. Yes, the family had consented to abandon all medical intervention except comfort measures, but they were not entirely comfortable with their decision.

[snip]

I strapped on my skates. Carefully I spiraled around every question, throwing in triple loops and double axels of knowledge to keep my answers sounding credible. This lady was very sick, and she would not last long.

Read on here, to the end of this humane story, because it may surprise you.